Box blank folding machine apparatus



July 11, 1967 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 D. s. ANNETT ETAL 3,330,185

DONALD S. ANNE-VT IVAN KALJFF'MAN A TTOR/VEV July 11, 1967 D. s. ANNI-:TT ETAL 3,330,185

BOX BLANK FOLDING MACHINE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.3 V

FIG-2 IVAN L KALJFl- MAN BY MAW/w A 7' TORNEV July 11, 1957 D. s. ANNETT ETAL 3,330,185

BOX BLANK FOLDING MACHINE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY July 11, 1957 D. s. ANNETT ETAL 3,330,185

BOX BLANK FOLDING MACHINE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E I E E \|6 3,6 $71, INVENTORS DONALD SANNETT J IVAN KAUFFMAN I4 ,/g BY la :J' e0 ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,330,185 BOX BLANK FOLDING MACHINE APPARATUS Donald S. Annett and Ivan L. Kauffman, Lima, Ohio, assignors t Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,269

2 Claims. (Cl. 93--49) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A box blank folding machine apparatus having an intermittent motion hollow tubular shaft supporting folder lingers for folding the trailing flap of a box blank forward faster than the blank is moving. A constant drive shaft is supported concentrically within the intermittent motion shaft and a gear mechanism, including a pinion gear on the intermittent tubular shaft and meshing with a gear segment pivotally supported on a radial arm means attached to the constant drive shaft,V transfers motion between the concentric shafts. A cam and follower arrangement is operatively connected to the gear segment and operable during rotation of the constant drive shaft to oscillate the gear segment and thereby to impart motion to the tubular shaft with respect to the constant drive shaft.

This invention in general relates to a box blank folding machine apparatus. As hereinafter described, this invention is more specifically directed to an apparatus and means for folding the trailing flap of paper cartons of the type which are usually maintained in collapsed condition until they Iare to be used.

The present equipment in the box blank folding and making industry requires considerable length and equipment to be incorporated in a box making machine in order to fold the trailing flap of a box blank, The addition or deletion of individual folding assemblies are diicult and expensive.

An objective of the present invention is to provi-de a trailing flap folding attachment that requires the minimum of length in a box making machine.

Another vobjective of this invention is to provide a trailing ap folding attachment that will operate at a constant rate with respect to the machine power source but have an inherent means of Aacceleration and deceleration.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a trailing ilap folding attachment that may be easily adjustable and replaceable.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a t-railing flap folding apparatus secured to an intermittent motion shaft which is oscillated with respect to a constant driven shaft.

An objective of the present invention also includes the provision of a structure capable of accomplishing the above vobjectives with a minimum of material cost and Yfabricating expense and, at the same time, being composed of simple and ruggedly constructed elements which are reliable in operation.

Other objectives and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form part of the instant smcification Iand which are to be read in `conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in various views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a section of a box making machine where the present invention would be utilized;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the trailing flap folding apparatus taken along line 3 3 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the trailing flap folding apparatus taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 to 5e inclusive are plan views of a box blank in process of being folded and secured by passage through a box making machine.

While the invention is susceptible of various modications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative emlbodiments have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in considerable detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specic forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions land equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

General box description Referring generally to FIG. 5 an illustrative embodiment showing a typical box member which may be used in conjunction with the present invention will be discussed.

The box blank 10 consists of body panel 11, front flap 12, rear ap 13, side panels 14 and 15. Body score lines 16, 17, 18 and 19, separate front flap 12, rear ap 13, side aps 14 and 15, respectively, from body panel 11. Lead and trailing flaps 21 and 22 are connected to side panel 14 by flap score lines 23 and 24, respectively. Lead and trailing flaps 25 and 26 Aare connected to side panel 15 by ap score lines 27 and 28,. respectively. Front ap 12 has sealing areas 31 and 32 inherent with it and set off by sealing score lines 33 and 34. Rear flap 13 has sealing areas 35 and 36 inherent with it and set olf by ysealing score lines 37 and 38.

The box blank 10 will proceed through a box making machine similar to that disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,291,063, which was issued July 28, 1942. As the box blank proceeds through the machine in the direction indicated as Df the 4*front flap 12 will be folded back toward the body panel 11 rabout score line 16. At the same time sealing areas 31 and 32 will be folded about score lines 33 and 34, respectively, Iproducing a box member as illustrated in FIG. 5a. As the blank continues through the machine, rear flap 13 will be folded back toward body panel 11 about score line 17. Sealing areas 35 and 36 are folded about score lines 37 and 38, respectively, and the box blank will appear as viewed in FIG. 5b. The next action on the box blank 10 will be to have lead aps 21 and 25 folded yabout score lines 23 and 27 toward side panels 14 land 15, respectively, with the blank 14) appearing as illustrated in FIG. 5c, The next operation will be to have trailing llaps 22 and 26 folded forward toward side panels 14 and 15 about score lines 24 and 28, respectively. After this function, sealing yareas 31, 32, 35 and 35 will be activated for sealing by such methods as, for example, applying glue or heating up a thermoplastic coating surface such as polyethylene. The blank will then appear as viewed in FIG. 5d. The final operation performed by the box making machine will be to fold side panels 14 and 15 land their :associated parts about score lines 13 and 19, respectively, joining lead aps 21 and 25 and trailing aps 22 and 25 with sealing areas 32, 31, 36 and 35, respectively. The box will then be discharged from the machine and is ready for shipment to the user.

Machine operlltz'on Referring generally to FIG. l, ya brief description of a section of the machine which would incorporate the present invention will be disclosed as an illustration for the present disclosure.

A power source, not shown, is supplied to drive the various components of the machine. This power source delivers its power vthrough drive chain 41 which acts on drive gear 42 and drive gear 43. Drive gear 42 supplies the power to intermittent motion shaft 44. Rear folder finger yassemblies 45 are secured to shaft 44 and operate in a timed relationship on the box blank 10 as it moves .along the machine in a direction indicated as 65D-$7 The box blank will enter the disclosed section of the machine appearing in the form shown in FIG. b. The box blank will be acted on in a prior section of the machine having an apparatus similar to the embodiment to be disclosed below and acting on front and rear flaps 12 and 13. This prior section will also have diagonal folding bars, rollers or rods, for example, to act on sealing areas 31-32 and '3S-36. Whilevthe box blank 10 passes through the section of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, it is acted upon to appear as indicated in FIGS. 5c, 5d. The sealing areas 31, 32, 34 and 35 will not -be activated in this section of the machine but such activation Will take place later on along its path of movement. The box blank is moved along in a timed manner in our illustration by timing dog 47 which is carried by timing chain 46. There may be several timing units across the machine. In the present case there are two such chain assemblies at this stage of operation; however, only one is viewed in FIG. 1. Hold down bars 48 prevent the front'and rear flaps 12 and 13 and their associated sealing areas 31-32 and 35-36 from moving up from their folded position in this section of the machine. Guide members 49 prevent the box blank 10 from skewing out of alignment While traveling through the machine. f

As the box blank 10 moves through the illustrated section it is acted upon by lifter finger assemblies 57 and 58. The lifter finger assemblies 57 and 58 have two lifter i fingers 51 and 52, respectively, :and are driven in a oontinuous timed rotary manner from drive gear 43 by shaft 39. The lifter fingers 51 and 52 lift the leading flaps 21 and 25, respectively, off the box blank 10 into engagement with suitable folding plows, rollers, bars, rods, etc. 53 and 54, These folding plows 53 and 54 deflect the leading aps 21 and 25 rearwardly due to the forward motion of the blank by timing dogs 47.

The rear folder finger assembly rotates with intermottent motion shaft 44 causing rear folder'fingers 55 and 56 to act on trailing flaps 22 and 26 folding them about score lines 24, 28, respectively. The rear folder ngers 55 and 56 will continue to rotate until the Viiaps 22 and 26 are approximately in contact with side panels 14 and 15, respectively. At this point the shaft 44 will stop the rotation of rear folder finger assembly 45 in Vrelationshi-p to the box blank 10. The folding plows 53, 54 will act on trailing aps 22 and 26 holding them in their down position, as shown in FIG. 5d, along with lead aps 21 and 25. The box kblank 10 will then continue through the various stages of the machine.

Rotary folder acluator operation Referring generally to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the rotary folder actuator unit 60 will be discussed in detail.

f Drive gear 42 is secured, in a usual manner, to constant drive shaft 61 which is supported by a ball bearing assembly 62 and a plain bearing assembly 63. At the opposite end from the ball bearing assembly 62 is located a rotating support arm 66 and securing flange 67. Intermittent motion shaft 44 is supported by constant drive shaft l61 but is rotated in an intermittent manner with respect to shaft 61 as will be described in detail below.

Rotary folder actuator 60, as viewed in PIG. 4, has

carri member 71 with lcam track 72; Rotating support arm 66 is secured to constant driveshaft 61 through securing ange 67. On one end ofthe rotating support arm 66 is counter Weight 75, which is secured in an adjust- `able manner. On the other end is oscillating plate member 76. Plate member 76 is secured to the arm 66 in such present case fulcrum bolt 77 is the pivot point. Plate member 76 also has gear segment 78. VSupport bar 79 is secured to the plate member 76 in a usual manner, giving it stability as it oscillates back and forth. The plate member has cam follower 81 secured to it and operating in cam track 72. The rotary folder actuator unit 66 is mounted to frarne support 182 which is stationary and part of the machine frame and Ibase construction. O-ring seal 84 is mounted in thecam member 71 and the -rotary folder actuator cover 86'is mounted to the cam member enclosing the unit, It is desirable for high speed operation so that an oil supply may be placed in the unit to permit continuous operation withoutdetrimental Vintermittent motion shaft 44 by bolts 93. The rear folder fingers 56 are secured to the support block members and are adjustable in a radial direction. FIG. 2 shows the intermittent motion shaft in a dwell position and trailing ap 26 in the position in which it will pass to folding plow 54. As many or as Yfew rear folder finger assemblies 45 as` neededV can be secured to and positioned in the axial position on the intermittent motion shaft 44;

Referring generally to FIG. 3, drive chain 41 turns Y drive gear 42 at a constant speed. Drive gear 42 is secured Y to constant drive shaft 61 which transmits power to the 'rotating support arm 66 through securing flange 67. Oscillating plate member 76 is meshed in engagement with intermittent drive shaft gear 91 by gear segment 78 which causes the intermittent motion shaft 44 to rotate with the drive shaft 61. The cam follower 81 is actuated by cam track 72 of cam member 71 causing the gear segment 78 to rotate in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 when the cam track 72 is moving away from the constant drive shaft 61 and in a clockwise direction when the cam track 72 is moving toward constant drive shaft 61. The cam track 72 has such apath that when it is moving away from the shaft 61 the rear folder finger 56 will stop rotating with respect to the box blank 10 and remain in a dwell position. While the folder finger assembly 45 is dwelling the box blank 10 is removed from under finger 56. When the plate member 76 is moved toward the constant drive shaft 61 the rear folder finger 56 is moving counter-clockwise with respect to the constant drive shaft 61. Under this condition the rear folder finger 56 is rotating faster than 4constant drive shaft 61 and moving faster than the box blank 10 is moving through the machine. This permits the folding of trailing fiaps such as designated as 26 and 22. The folder lingers 56 and 55, as viewed in FIG. l, accelerate the flaps 22 and 27 forward through 180 degrees and put them in the down position as indicated in FIG. 2. At this time the cam follower 81 will then be moved away from the constant drive shaft 61, as discussed above, causing the rear folder finger assembly 45 to dwell while the box blank 10 is moved and passed to the folding plows 53 and 54. Present cam member 71 has cam track 72 so designed that there is a folding operation every degree rotation of constant folder finger 56 on support drive shaft y 61. Under these design conditions the support block 92 has two rear folder fingers 56. The cam track 72 design could be altered to provide for one folder finger or` three or more folder fingers on the Vrear' folder finger assembly 45 depending lon the size and structure and need of the application. f

While the embodiment of the present invention asherein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might 'be adopted within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and claims.

We claim the following as our invention:

1. A box blank folding machine apparatus comprising in combination,

(a) an intermittent motion hollow tubular shaft,

(b) a constant drive shaft supported concentrically within said intermittent motion tubular shaft and movable about a fixed axis,

(c) a folder nger assembly having one or more folder fingers mounted on said intermittent motion tubular shaft and movable about the fixed axis to operate on a trailing fiap of the box blank,

(d) a gear member as part of said intermittent motion tubular shaft,

(e) radial support means on said constant drive shaft pivotally mounting a gear segment thereon which is meshed with said first gear member while being rotated about the axis of said constant drive shaft,

(f) a cam and follower operatively connected to said gear segment and operable during rotation of said radial support means for oscillating said gear segment to impart intermittent motion to said tubular shaft with respect to said constant drive shaft, and

(g) said folder finger acting on the box blank at speeds of dwell, faster than the constant drive shaft speed and slower than the constant drive shaft speed whereby the trailing flap is folded forward faster than the box blank is moving.

2. A box blank folding machine apparatus comprising, 3

in combination,

(a) an intermittent motion hollow tubular shaft, (b) a constant drive shaft jour-naled concentrically within said intermittent motion tubular shaft to rotate about a fixed axis and extending axially beyond each end of said tubular shaft Ifor rotation about a fixed axis, Y

(c) a folder finger assembly having one or more L-shaped folder fingers and mounted on said intermittent motion tubular shaft and movable about the fixed axis to Operate on a trailing fiap of the box blank,

(d) a pinion gear fixed adjacent one end of said tubular shaft,

(e) a radial support arm secured to said constant drive shaft extension at said one end,

(f) a sector gear swingably mounted on one end of said arm and meshed with said pinion gear,

(g) a cam track fixed on the machine and guidably receiving a cam follower on said sector gear for oscillating said sector gear to impart intermittent motion to said tubular shaft with respect to said canstant drive shaft, and

(h) said folder finger acting on the box blank at speeds -of dwell, `faster than the constant drive-shaft speed and slower than the constant drive shaft speed whereby the trailing ap is folded forward faster than the box blank is moving.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,774,286 12/1956 La Bombard 93-49 3,014,415 12/1961 Pierce 93-49 3,138,075 6/1964 Martin 93-49 BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOX BLANK FOLDING MACHINE APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) AN INTERMITTENT MOTION HOLLOW TUBULAR SHAFT, (B) A CONSTANT DRIVE SHAFT SUPPORTED CONCENTRICALLY WITHIN SAID INTERMITTENT MOTION TUBULAR SHAFT AND MOVABLE ABOUT A FIXED AXIS, (C) A FOLDER FINGER ASSEMBLY HAVING ONE OR MORE FOLDER FINGERS MOUNTED ON SAID INTERMITTENT MOTION TUBULAR SHAFT AND MOVABLE ABOUT THE FIXED AXIS TO OPERATE ON A TRAILING FLAP OF THE BOX BLANK, (D) A GEAR MEMBER AS PART OF SAID INTERMITTENT MOTION TUBULAR SHAFT, (E) RADIAL SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID CONSTANT DRIVE SHAFT PIVOTALLY MOUNTING A GEAR SEGMENT THEREON WHICH IS MESHED WITH SAID FIRST GEAR MEMBER WHILE BEING ROTATED ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID CONSTANT DRIVE SHAFT, 